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2009 Volkswagen Touareg

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.

About this comparison →
19Owner complaints

Model-year median: 27.5

2Recall campaigns

View recall details →

1Investigations

View investigation details →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
37
20069
200756
200819
200925
201016
201128
2012
Compare all Touareg years →

Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

Fuel/propulsion System
8Steering
3Air Bags
2Engine
2Fuel System, Diesel
2
All reported categories
Power Train
2Electrical System
1Exterior Lighting
1Fuel System, Gasoline
1Structure
1Unknown Or Other
1Visibility/wiper
1

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

Limited mileage data: 14 of 19 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Fuel/propulsion System. Review the 8 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Steering. Review the 3 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Air Bags. Review the 2 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

0 crash reports0 fire reports0 injury reports

Fuel System, Diesel complaints

2 reports
Clear category filter
81,000 miles · Dec 25, 2014
Fuel System, Diesel

MY 2009 VW TOUAREG TDI EXPERIENCED A FAILURE OF THE REDUCTANT PUMP FOR THE DIESEL EMISSION FLUID SYSTEM (DEF.) RESEARCHING FAILURE RATES OF THIS SYSTEM HAS SHOWN A VERY HIGH FAILURES OF THIS SYSTEM IN THE VW TOUAREG AND PASSAT CLEAN DIESEL APPLICATION FOR MODEL YEAR 2009 AND NEWER. PROPOSED SOLUTION TO REDUCE CRYSTALLIZATION A…

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MY 2009 VW TOUAREG TDI EXPERIENCED A FAILURE OF THE REDUCTANT PUMP FOR THE DIESEL EMISSION FLUID SYSTEM (DEF.) RESEARCHING FAILURE RATES OF THIS SYSTEM HAS SHOWN A VERY HIGH FAILURES OF THIS SYSTEM IN THE VW TOUAREG AND PASSAT CLEAN DIESEL APPLICATION FOR MODEL YEAR 2009 AND NEWER. PROPOSED SOLUTION TO REDUCE CRYSTALLIZATION AND CLOGGING OF SYSTEM HAS RESULTED IN 3 SERVICE REVISIONS, WITH THE MOST RECENT CALLING FOR REMOVAL AND REPLACEMENT OF THE ENTIRE SYSTEM (TANK, PUMP, LINE AND INJECTOR) AT A COST OF $1,5000. VW WILL NOT COVER ANY COSTS OR ISSUE A RECALL. THIS SAME SYSTEM AND PARTS ARE USED IN THE FORD F350 AND CHEVROLET DURAMAX CLEAN DIESEL APPLICATIONS WITH SIMILARLY HIGH FAILURE RATES TO THE BEST OF MY KNOWLEDGE ALL LIGHT DUTY CLEAN DIESEL MANUFACTURERS ARE EXPERIENCING A FAILURE OF THIS SYSTEM WITH NO RECALL OR COVERAGE AGAINST FUTURE FAILURE. IT IS APPARENT THAT THE SUPPLIER OF THE DEF SYSTEM USED IN COMMON LIGHT DUTY VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FAULTY PARTS ON MULTIPLE VEHICLES. THE MANUFACTURERS OF THESE VEHICLES HAVE RECORDS OF THE FAILURE RATES AND CAN DEMONSTRATE THAT THE SYSTEM HAS BEEN FAULTY, WHICH RESULTS IN NON COMPLIANCE OF FEDERAL EMISSIONS STANDARDS. WHAT STEPS CAN BE TAKEN TO INVESTIGATE THIS AND PROVIDE A LONG TERM SOLUTION? *TR

NHTSA ODI #10668236

65,000 miles · Jul 17, 2013
Fuel System, Diesel

WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD FROM MY HOME, I WAS COMING UP TO A STOP SIGN FOR A HIGH SPEED ROAD. WHILE SLOWING DOWN THE VEHICLE COMPLETELY DIED AND I HAD LOSS OF ALL POWER. BRAKES WERE EXTREMELY HARD TO PRESS AND STOP THE VEHICLE AS WELL AS STEERING (LOSS OF POWER BRAKES AND POWER STEERING). THE CAR ROLLED PASSED THE STOP SIGN…

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WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD FROM MY HOME, I WAS COMING UP TO A STOP SIGN FOR A HIGH SPEED ROAD. WHILE SLOWING DOWN THE VEHICLE COMPLETELY DIED AND I HAD LOSS OF ALL POWER. BRAKES WERE EXTREMELY HARD TO PRESS AND STOP THE VEHICLE AS WELL AS STEERING (LOSS OF POWER BRAKES AND POWER STEERING). THE CAR ROLLED PASSED THE STOP SIGN AND HALF WAY INTO THE INTERSECTION AS I FIRMLY PRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL DOWN. I ATTEMPTED TO START IT AGAIN BUT IT ONLY CRANKED AND WOULD NOT START. THE INTERSECTION IS ON THE OTHER SIDE OF A HILL MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO SEE THE INTERSECTION. I IMMEDIATELY PUT ON MY FLASHERS (WHICH WOULDN'T DO GOOD FROM THE TRAFFIC ON THE ROAD) BUT THEN PUT IT IN NEUTRAL. I WAS ABLE TO ROLL BACK ENOUGH, OUT OF THE WAY. UNDER A MINUTE, I WAS OUT OF THE WAY (FOR THE MOST PART). A SEMI AND A FEW ADDITIONAL CARS COME UP THE HILL ABOUT 10 SECONDS OF ME GETTING THE CAR ROLLED BACK, OUT OF THE WAY. I MAY HAVE VERY WELL BEEN HIT BY A SEMI GOING 55+ MPH. I FIND MYSELF VERY LUCKY I WASN'T STRUCK BY ANOTHER VEHICLE AND INJURED OR EVEN POSSIBLY KILLED. I HAD TO HAVE THE VEHICLE TO THE VW DEALERSHIP. I'M TOLD THE HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP WENT OUT CAUSING NO FUEL PRESSURE AND TOOK OUT THE ENTIRE FUEL SYSTEM. THIS CAUSED THE CAR TO STALL AND WAS UNABLE TO RESTART. VEHICLE IS A 2009 TOUAREG V6 TDI (TURBO DIESEL). *TR

NHTSA ODI #10525496

Official recalls

2

17V151000 · Fuel System, Gasoline

Mar 8, 2017

Volkswagen Group of America Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2007-2010 Touareg vehicles. The fuel filter flange may crack and allow fuel to leak out.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source can increase the risk of a fire.

Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and replace the fuel filter flange if cracks are found. A protective cover will be applied to the fuel filter to prevent oxidization cracks from forming. These repairs will be made free of charge. The recall began August 3, 2017. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for the recall is 20Z4.

09V248000 · Structure:body

Jul 2, 2009

VOLKSWAGEN IS RECALLING 14,416 MY 2007-2009 TOUAREG VEHICLES. THE FASTENING STRUTS ON THE ROOF EDGE SPOILER CAN CRACK, CAUSING THE SPOILER TO BECOME LOOSE AND POSSIBLY DETACH FROM THE VEHICLE WITHOUT WARNING, EVEN THOUGH INITIALLY THE SPOILER MAY FEEL SECURE.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IF THIS HAPPENS, THE SPOILER COULD CAUSE INJURY BY STRIKING PERSONS OUTSIDE THE VEHICLE OR COULD BECOME AN OBSTACLE TO OTHER DRIVERS, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL REINFORCEMENT WEDGES TO THE ROOF EDGE SPOILER FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING AUGUST 2009. OWNER MAY CONTACT VOLKSWAGEN AT 1-800-822-8987.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

1

EA11003 · High-Pressure Fuel Pump Failure

Opened Feb 7, 2011 · Closed Mar 27, 2015

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Fuel System, Diesel; Fuel System, Other:delivery:fuel Pump

The Office of Defects Investgation (ODI) opened EA11-003 on February 7, 2011, based on 160 complaints to ODI and Volkswagen involving high pressure fuel pump (HPFP) failures in model year (MY) 2009 through 2010 Volkswagen Jetta and Golf and Audi A3 TDI vehicles and questions regarding fuel sample results provided by Volkswagen as part of its response to PE10-034.During EA11-003, ODI analyzed design information, field experience and test data for MY 2009 through 2012 Volkswagen Jetta, Golf and Touareg and Audi A3 and Q7 vehicles equipped with TDI engines. Volkswagen has not identified any design or manufacturing defects in the subject TDI Clean Diesel pumps and has stated that the subject pumps were designed, tested and approved for use in the United States market, with substantial design margins for fuels that are out of specification.Volkswagen believes that misfueling with gasoline is the primary cause of HPFP drivetrain failures in the field.Only the Q7 vehicles were built with misfuel protection devices.In May 2013 Volkswagen initiated a service campaign to install misfuel protection devices in all MY 2009 through 2012 Jetta, Golf and A3 vehicles.Volkswagen implemented misfuel protection devices in all of the subject models beginning in MY 2013. ODI?s analysis of HPFP drivetrain failure incidents indicates that most failures do not result in engine stall while driving and, when pump drivetrain failure does result in stall while driving, it is usually preceded by numerous warning symptoms (e.g., glow plug warning lamp, chime, limp mode, and driveability symptoms).The failure data for the subject vehicles show relatively low stalling rates (less than one percent at three years in service) for each of the pump designs used in the subject vehicles.There have been no reports of crashes, injuries or fatalities related to the alleged defect. Based on these facts, this investigation is closed.The closing of this investigation does not constitute a finding by NHTSA that a safety-related defect does not exist.The agency will continue to monitor complaints and other information relating to the alleged defect in the subject vehicles and take further action in the future if warranted.For additional information, see the closing report in the document file for EA11-003.

Additional source detail variants (2)

Fuel System, Diesel

The Office of Defects Investgation (ODI) opened EA11-003 on February 7, 2011, based on 160 complaints to ODI and Volkswagen involving high pressure fuel pump (HPFP) failures in model year (MY) 2009 through 2010 Volkswagen Jetta and Golf and Audi A3 TDI vehicles and questions regarding fuel sample results provided by Volkswagen as part of its response to PE10-034.During EA11-003, ODI analyzed design information, field experience and test data for MY 2009 through 2012 Volkswagen Jetta, Golf and Touareg and Audi A3 and Q7 vehicles equipped with TDI engines. Volkswagen has not identified any design or manufacturing defects in the subject TDI Clean Diesel pumps and has stated that the subject pumps were designed, tested and approved for use in the United States market, with substantial design margins for fuels that are out of specification.Volkswagen believes that misfueling with gasoline is the primary cause of HPFP drivetrain failures in the field.Only the Q7 vehicles were built with misfuel protection devices.In May 2013 Volkswagen initiated a service campaign to install misfuel protection devices in all MY 2009 through 2012 Jetta, Golf and A3 vehicles.Volkswagen implemented misfuel protection devices in all of the subject models beginning in MY 2013. ODI?s analysis of HPFP drivetrain failure incidents indicates that most failures do not result in engine stall while driving and, when pump drivetrain failure does result in stall while driving, it is usually preceded by numerous warning symptoms (e.g., glow plug warning lamp, chime, limp mode, and driveability symptoms).The failure data for the subject vehicles show relatively low stalling rates (less than one percent at three years in service) for each of the pump designs used in the subject vehicles.There have been no reports of crashes, injuries or fatalities related to the alleged defect. Based on these facts, this investigation is closed.The closing of this investigation does not constitute a finding by NHTSA that a safety-related defect does not exist.The agency will continue to monitor complaints and other information relating to the alleged defect in the subject vehicles and take further action in the future if warranted.For additional information, see the closing report in the document file for EA11-003.

Fuel System, Other:delivery:fuel Pump

The Office of Defects Investgation (ODI) opened EA11-003 on February 7, 2011, based on 160 complaints to ODI and Volkswagen involving high pressure fuel pump (HPFP) failures in model year (MY) 2009 through 2010 Volkswagen Jetta and Golf and Audi A3 TDI vehicles and questions regarding fuel sample results provided by Volkswagen as part of its response to PE10-034.During EA11-003, ODI analyzed design information, field experience and test data for MY 2009 through 2012 Volkswagen Jetta, Golf and Touareg and Audi A3 and Q7 vehicles equipped with TDI engines. Volkswagen has not identified any design or manufacturing defects in the subject TDI Clean Diesel pumps and has stated that the subject pumps were designed, tested and approved for use in the United States market, with substantial design margins for fuels that are out of specification.Volkswagen believes that misfueling with gasoline is the primary cause of HPFP drivetrain failures in the field.Only the Q7 vehicles were built with misfuel protection devices.In May 2013 Volkswagen initiated a service campaign to install misfuel protection devices in all MY 2009 through 2012 Jetta, Golf and A3 vehicles.Volkswagen implemented misfuel protection devices in all of the subject models beginning in MY 2013. ODI?s analysis of HPFP drivetrain failure incidents indicates that most failures do not result in engine stall while driving and, when pump drivetrain failure does result in stall while driving, it is usually preceded by numerous warning symptoms (e.g., glow plug warning lamp, chime, limp mode, and driveability symptoms).The failure data for the subject vehicles show relatively low stalling rates (less than one percent at three years in service) for each of the pump designs used in the subject vehicles.There have been no reports of crashes, injuries or fatalities related to the alleged defect. Based on these facts, this investigation is closed.The closing of this investigation does not constitute a finding by NHTSA that a safety-related defect does not exist.The agency will continue to monitor complaints and other information relating to the alleged defect in the subject vehicles and take further action in the future if warranted.For additional information, see the closing report in the document file for EA11-003.